Exhaust gas conditioning method



Dec. 11, 1956 J, P, RUTH EXHAUST GAS CONDITIONING METHOD `F1ed July 27,1953 mm y, 9 Eu H. 2 VR n m. ,Y Dl h .p e s O J/ Y B 5 2 United StatesPatent EXHAUST GAS CONDTIONING METHOD Joseph P. Ruth, Denver, Colo.

Application July 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,455

Claims. (Cl. 23-2) As a development from and a variation of theteachings of my United States Patent No. 2,611,680, issued on September23, 1952, this invention relates to a method for the conditioning ofinternal combustion engine exhaust gases for the removal therefrom ofnoxious and irritant properties, and has as an object to provide animproved such method susceptible of practice through various apparatusorganizations of the type represented by my pending applications forpatent Serial No. 287,141, tiled May 10, 1952, now Patent Number2,678,261, dated May 1l, 1954, and Serial No. 364,634, filed June 29,1953.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for thetreatment of internal combustion engine exhaust gases, whereby tocondition the same for discharge free from menace to humans, which issusceptible of elective operation with diverse neutralizing agents whichare readily available in well-known commercial forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved exhaust gasconditioning method susceptible of practice through apparatus adapted tobe carried by automotive vehicles and capable of continuous functioningthroughout extended time periods without occasion for servicing ormaintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists inthe nature and sequential relation of steps constituting a methodsusceptible of practice through apparatus of the type represented in theaccompanying drawing, all as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in myclaims.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a vertical section taken substantiallyaxially through one simple form of apparatus unit appropriate forpractice of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in section to disclose otherwiseconcealed construction, of alternative apparatus appropriate forpractice of the improved method.

The free discharge to atmosphere of internal combustion exhaust gases,particularly the gases generated through operation of Diesel-typeengines, is a well-known menace to human life and health which becomescritical when the gases are present in confined spaces and congestedareas. A practical method effective to condition such exhaust gases fordischarge without hazardous or annoying eiect upon humans is taught inmy earlier patent, above noted, a feature of the patented method beingthe washing of a mixture of the gas with water over and through anintersticed alkaline diffusing medium, such as broken lime rock, whichis substantially insoluble in water and soluble in the characteristicacidity of the gas- Water mixture, and uprising that portion of the gasnot mixed with water through the wetted alkaline'charge. While the useof broken lime rock, or an equivalent, as a dilusing medium in thetreatment of exhaust gases is entirely practical and wholly eiective, ithas been determined that the exhaust gases may be adequately conditionedin the manner and for the purpose elaborated in my earlier patent byforming a mixture of the gases with "ice 2 an alkaline solution, or withwater carryingfnely-divi'cled alkaline material, and then washing theresulting wetted gases and gas mixtures through an intersticed diffusingcharge of inert material, whereby to establish repetitive intimatecontacts of the gas constituents with the alkaline agent dissolved in orcarried by the water.

Giving effect of the determinations now established, the improved methodconsists inalkalizing a charge of water in a suitable container bydissolving or suspending an alkaline agent therein, inflowing the gasesto be conditioned to said alkalized water charge in a manner to agitatethe charge and to mix the gases therein and therewith, repetitiouslywashing the alkalized solution over and through an intersticed diffusingmedium of inert material as an incident of the gas input to thealkalized Water charge, and passing the exhaust gases through the wetteddiffusing medium prior to escape of the gases to atmosphere.

As should be manifest, alkalizing ofthe water charge may be accomplishedthrough the use of any one of many well-known agents; successfuloperation of the method requiring only that the agent be such as willpersist in the solution and maintain a requisite degree' of alkalinitytherein at the elevated operating temperatures generated by the hotexhaust gases introduced to the solution. A suitable alkalizing agent ispulverized or inelyground lime rock which is insolube in water and'hence is carried in a state of suspension by the water charge as thelatter is agitated and circulated by the gas input thereto. Thegas-water mixture resulting when theV exhaust gases are charged into theWater is characteristically acid and consequently reacts with the limerock particles suspended in the water to elect neutralization of themixture and a gradual erosion of the lime rock particles as the particlesurfaces react and are repetitiously freshly exposed. When thepulverized lime rock is utilized, washing of the so-alkalized waterthrough an inert diffusing medium results in a dissemination of the limerock particles throughout the medium where they function to react withthe acid factor of the wetted gas traversing said medium, thus tothoroughly neutralize the gas acidity by means of an agent which isconstantly renewed within the medium as the alkalized solution isrepetitiously washed therethrough. Alternative to use of the pulverizedlime rock, and equivalently eiective in the practice of the improvedmethod, alkaline agents, such as sodium salts, calcium salts, and thelike, may be dissolved in the water charge to alkalize the latter andthe said alkalized water may be circulated through and to wet thediifusing medium with neutralizing effect on the gases and on thegas-water mixtures traversing the medium.

Apparatus appropriate for practice of the improved method as above setforth may be variously constructed and organized, typical apparatusunits appropriate for practice of the invention being illustrated in mypending applications above noted and represented by the two iigures ofthe accompanying drawing. Figure l of the drawing shows an apparatusunit of the general type disclosed in my pending application No.287,141, in which the numeral 10 designates a closed housing adapted toconfine a charge 11 of water. An exhaust gas ow line 12 leads in acustomary manner from the manifold of an internal combustion engine andupstands centrally within the housing 10 and through the water charge 11as avertical conduit 13 terminating in an open upper end below the topclosure of the housing, Openings 14 intersect the wall of the conduit 13just above the bottom of the housing 10 to permit inflow from the charge11 to the conduit interior, so that How of exhaust gases through theline l2 is applied to pump water from -thc charge 11 upwardly throughthe conduit 13 .andout'of theV open upper end of the latter, therebycirculating and agitating the water charge with consequent thoroughWetting of the incoming gases whenever exhaust gas ow obtains in theline 12. A shroud 15 spacedly surrounds theV upper end of the conduit 13within the housing 10 and depends from sealed relation with the top ofthe housing to terminate in an upper end preferably above the normallevel of the charge 11, and a perforate or foraminous baille 16 iscarried by and inthe lower end of the shroud 15 to support a charge ofinert diffusing material 17 within and to fill said shroud between thebaille 16 and the delivery end of the conduit 13; said diiusing chargebeing constituted from any appropriate intersticed material, such assteel wool, glass ber, or the like. Overlying the did-using charge 17 atand about the upper end of the conduit 13, an annular distributingflange 1S functions to spread the outow from said conduit to outer areasof the dilusing charge. Organized as shown and described, the gas andgas and Water mixtures delivered through the upper end of the conduit 13downwardly traverse the shroud 15 and its charge 17 for escape throughthe baille 16 and about lower marginsV of the shroud. The gaseswashedthrough the charge 17 uprise within the housing exteriorly of theshroud and pass thence through suitable vents 19 for escape toatmosphere, as through a ilow line or manifold 20. Since practice of theimproved method through apparatus of the type shown by Figure l willgradually deplete the water charge 11 and Will also attenuate thelinitial alkalinity of said charge, it is expedient to provide means forreplenishing the water charge and for supplying additional quantities ofthe alkalizing agents to the charge, as may be necessary or desirable.Obviously, various expedients may be utilized for adding water andalkalizing agents to the interior of the housing 10 without interruptingoperation of the unit, and any practical form of such means isexemplified by a container 21 exterior to the housing 10 above the levelof the charge 11 and communicating with the interior of the housing forgravity delivery of its contents thereinto by means of a spout 22furnished with a valve 23. The container 21 may be arranged to store andto feed interiorly of the housing 10 supplemental amounts of Water,alkalized water, or alkalizing agents, either solid or liquid, all asmay be appropriate to the practice of the method as adapted to Y usethrough the illustrated apparatus.

The apparatus shown by Figure 2 of the drawing as appropriate forpractice of the improved method is substantially identical with thatdisclosed in my pending application Serial No. 364,634, and functions inmuch the same manner and to the same ultimate effect as that shown byFigure land hereinabove described. In Figure 2, the exhaust gas ow line12 delivers to the upper end of Va closed housing 24 confining adiffusing charge 17 of inert material supported upon a foraminous baflle16. From the lower end of the housing 24 a ilow line 25 leads to thelower end of an upright, elongated housing 26 and iscxtended interiorlyand upwardly of said-latter housing as a conduit 27 having an opendischarge end within and adjacent the upper end of the associatedhousing. The housing 26 is adapted to confine a charge of alkalizedwater arranged for metered supply'to the line 25 through the agency of avalved by-pass 28 leading from a lower portion of the housing todelivery at a jet 29 within the end of the line 25 alined with theconduit 27, and a container 21 is associated for feed of its contents tothe housing 26 through a spout 22 and valve 23 in the same manner andfor the same purpose set forth with respect to the apparatus of Figurel. A trap 3i? is associated with the delivery end of the conduit 27within the housing 26 for the collection of a portion of the liquiddischarged from said conduit under the influence of exhaust gas flowthroughthe system, and a line 31 leads from said trap 3G through a wallof the housing 26 to direct liquid collected in said trap throughsuitable agencies and a line 32 to outow across a distributing ange 18partially overlying the upper end of the charge 17 within the housing24. Thus, with an alkalized solution in the housing 26 and an input ofexhaust gas to the housing 24 through the line 12, a meter supply ofsolution is pumped through the conduit 27 under the inuence of the gasow, and a portion of thel pumped solution is collected in the trap 30and feeds thence through the lines 31 and 32 to percolate through andwet the charge 17 of the housing 24, thus conditioning said charge forthe neutralization of the acid constituents carried by the gastraversing the charge and ultimately escaping to atmosphere through aline 33 leading from the upper end of the housing 26.

Through either of the apparatus organizations illustrated, or throughany functionally equivalent structure, the improved method lis giveneffect by an arrangement which applies the exhaust gas ow to agitate analkalized water charge and to circulate portions of said charge in amanner to thoroughly wet the gas and vto form a gassolution mixture; thegas ow is further applied to cir-v culate the solution' for continuousand repetitions wetting of an inert diffusing medium interposed in thepath of. gas flow between the source of gas and atmosphere; andprovision is made for maintaining the alkalized solutionY at a desiredlevel and in an appropriate concentration.

Since variationsin the reagent employed, in the nature of the diffusingmedium, and in the form and construction of apparatus appropriate forpractice of theV method are clearly within the contemplation of theinvention andl may be accommodated without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by thescope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of theillustrative showing and foregoing-description.

I claim as my invention:v

l. The method of conditioning internal combustionV gas-liquid mixturesentrained with the gas VW to and Y.

with sustained wetting effect'upo'n said d-ilusing medium -as anincident of and in direct reaction to such flow, whereby to maintain'alkalized solution dispersed for intimate contact with the `gases inthe path of gas iow` through said medium. Y

2. The method of conditioning internal combustion engme'exhaust gases tonon-hazardous and unobnoxious form free from entrained solidsand'acidicconstituents l which consists of owing the gases under theiniluence of their discharge pressures through an intersticed diffusingmedium inert with respect tothe gases and gas-water mixtures thereof,feeding an alkalized water solution to the gas flow with resultantgeneration and entrainment of a gas-liquid mixture, directing solutionand gas-liquid mixtures entrained'with the gas How to'and with sustainedwetting eiect upon said diiusing medium as an incident of and indirectreaction to such flow, whereby to maintain alkalized solutiondispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path ofgas flowthrough said medium, and recovering the drip from saidrnedium in thepath of and for automatic Yrecirculation with the gas ow. f

3. The'method of conditioning'internal combustion engine exhaust gasesto non-hazardous and unobnoxious form free from 'entrained Asolids andacidic constituents which-consists of alkalizing a supply ofwatery-feeding the alkalized Vsolution to the gas discharge flow, withresultant agitation and entrainment of the liquor, Vflowing the gasesand entrained liquor under the influence of the gas discharge pressuresthrough an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gasesand gas water mixtures thereof, whereby to maintain alkalized solutiondispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path of gas oWthrough said medium, recovering the drip from said medium in saidsolution for automatic recirculation with the gas iow in direct reactionto the iiow pressure thereof, and diverting from said drip and toatmosphere the gases passed through said medium.

4. The method of conditioning internal combustion engine exhaust gasesto non-hazardous and unobnoxous form free from entrained solids andacidic constituents which consists of alkalizing a supply of water,flowing the gases under the influence of their discharge pressuresthrough an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gasesand gas-water mixtures thereof, feeding the alkalized solution to thegas outflow from said medium with resultant agitation and entrainment ofthe liquor, diverting entrained solution from the gas ow to and withsustained wetting effect upon said medium, whereby to maintain alkalizedsolution dispersed for intimate contact with the gases in the path ofgas ow through said medium, Venting to atmosphere the vapor constituentof the fiow, and recovering the drip from said medium in and forautomatic recirculation with the gas outow therefrom.

5. In a method of conditioning internal combustion engine exhaust gasesto non-hazardous and unobnoxious form in automatic reaction to flow ofsaid gases under the sole influence of their discharge pressures whichis characterized by the feeding of an alkalized water solution to thegas ow with resultant agitation and entrainment of the liquor, the stepsof directing the entrained liquor to and with sustained wetting effectupon an intersticed diffusing medium inert with respect to the gases andliquor as an incident of its ow with the gas, whereby to maintainalkalized solution dispersed in the ow path of and for intimate contactwith vapors traversing the medium, and passing the exhaust gases throughthe so-wetted medium.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS991,861 Lemberg May 9, 1911 1,860,298 Stelzner May 24, 1932 2,524,088Shaw Oct. 3, 1950 2,611,680 Ruth Sept. 23, 1952 2,677,601 Ruth May 4,1954

1. THE METHOD OF CONDITIONING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EXHAUST GASESTO NON-HAZARDOUS AND UNOBNOXIOUS FORM FREE FROM ENTRAINED SOLIDS ANDACIDIC CONSTITUENTS WHICH CONSISTS OF FLOWING THE GASES UNDER THEINFLUENCE OF THEIR DISCHARGE PRESSURES THROUGH AN INTERSTICED DIFFUSINGMEDIUM INERT WITH RESPECT TO THE GASES AND GASWATER MIXTURES THEREOF,FEEDING AN ALKALIZED WATER SOLUTION TO THE GAS FLOW WITH RESULTANTGENERATION AND ENTRAINMENT OF A GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE, AND DIRECTINGSOLUTION AND GAS-LIQUID MIXTURES ENTRAINED WITH THE GAS FLOW TO AND WITHSUSTAINED WETTING EFFECT UPON SAID DIFFUSING MEDIUM AS AN INCIDENT OFAND IN DIRECT REACTION TO SUCH FLOW, WHEREBY TO MAINTAIN ALKALIZEDSOLUTION DISPERSED FOR INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE GASES IN THE PATH OFGAS FLOW THROUGH SAID MEDIUM.